Leaking System

[DickieC]

Hi there,

We had a British Gas Boiler 330+ Fitted 2 years ago and all was well.

About two months ago it came up with a Fault code F1 and refused to function. I was working away at the time and the wife got the Service Engineer down to sort it out. The engineer got the boiler working but later after he left, when the timer kicked in again the wife said the boiler was making a horrible vibrating noise that really frightened her so she turned it off and called them in again, the engineer messed about with with drain from the boiler and other stuff, (I have no idea what) and then fitted a new pump and it worked.

The boiler is working ok now but I have another problem now, I am pretty sure that I did not have a leak certainly in the last year I am up in the loft a fair bit, boxes etc. I understand the system we have an expansion tank in the loft feeding the boiler and rads. but I was up there today and there is a constant drip, once a second into the tank, I switched off the water supply and waited, and sure enough the water level dropped considerably (the system was cold). So I have a definate leak.

System has been fitted for 20 years with no problems, so Im searching for an answer, the upstairs pipework must be ok, as the leak is quite pronounced and we would have seen it on the below ceiling.

Could the above work on the boiler have generated a leak ? It is dry around the pipework and below the boiler, but I understand the boiler has a condensate drain so any leak of water inside would maybe go this route ?

Clutching at straws here, I need to get this fixed as the system inhibitor will all probably be gone now.

Any help/pointers gratefully received.

 

[rpm]

Welcome to the forum DickieC, a lot of the guys are still out working but in the meantime have you had any other plumbing work done in the house, taps or shower changed? anything at all and secondly did you by any chance notice if this water was cold or warm?

 

[DickieC]

We have not had any plumbing work done in the house since the new boiler 2 years ago.

The expansion tank in the loft has a single cold fill with a 'Float Valve' to keep the level constant, Except when the system is hot then I guess the water level in the tank will be significantly higher due to expansion, the water dripping into the tank is cold.

My first thought was a faulty valve on the tank, but that would just overfill it and leak out of the overflow, As I say I just turned the water off with a quarter turn valve at the cold fill and went back 2 hours later (cold system) and the water level had dropped considerably, it had actually got half way down the feed pipe to the rads etc

 

[rpm]

We have not had any plumbing work done in the house since the new boiler 2 years ago.

The expansion tank in the loft has a single cold fill with a 'Float Valve' to keep the level constant, Except when the system is hot then I guess the water level in the tank will be significantly higher due to expansion, the water dripping into the tank is cold.

My first thought was a faulty valve on the tank, but that would just overfill it and leak out of the overflow, As I say I just turned the water off with a quarter turn valve at the cold fill and went back 2 hours later (cold system) and the water level had dropped considerably, it had actually got half way down the feed pipe to the rads etc

Thanks for the update, now we wait for the guys who know more about it than me to log in later.

 

[joni os]

Does your DHW cylinder have a separate feed tank in loft.

 

[Riley]

Is your f&e higher than the cwsc???

 

[Chalked]

I will translate the above:19:
Is your heating tank ( small one) higher or lower than your tank that feed the hot water cylinder larger one.

This is important, as it could indicate a leak in the cylinder coil .

 

[Riley]

I will translate the above:19:
Is your heating tank ( small one) higher or lower than your tank that feed the hot water cylinder larger one.

This is important, as it could indicate a leak in the cylinder coil .

Ruin my thunder :smile:

 

[DickieC]

The Expansion tank is situated in the loft (2 floors) and feeds the boiler Rads. and indirect heating coil in the Hot water tank

The Hot water tank is a tribune HE (mains pressure) situated at ground floor, so any leak in the indirect heating coil would in fact fill the expansion tank as it is at a higher pressure ?

I think thats the info you wanted

regards

 

[ShaunCorbs]

best way to tell turn the mains water off and open a hot tap, then see if the f and e tank rises

 

[Chalked]

The Expansion tank is situated in the loft (2 floors) and feeds the boiler Rads. and indirect heating coil in the Hot water tank

The Hot water tank is a tribune HE (mains pressure) situated at ground floor, so any leak in the indirect heating coil would in fact fill the expansion tank as it is at a higher pressure ?

I think thats the info you wanted

regards

You are correct. If the cylinder was leaking it would be filling the tank.
Do you have wooden floors downstairs? If so have a look under there.

 

[joni os]

With system cold isolate flow and return at boiler and see if level in F&E tank continues to fall. This will eliminate or confirm problem with boiler.

 

[DickieC]

Hi guys, thanks for the help.

Did look at isolating the boiler but I dont have any valves fitted so cant do that.

I pulled off the condensate drain and water ran over my hand, put a washing up bowl under the outlet and it drains water every 7 mins (system off). the bowl is over a 1/4 full now after 2 hours (system has been off for 3 hours before all this), I guess I gotta call the man in again, just chuffed it is not under the floor :8:

 

[Chalked]

Is it a Worcester?

 

[DickieC]

Hi there

No its a British Gas Boiler 330+

Further update, I left the bowl under the boiler condensate drain from 1200 to 1800 today with the system off

Turns out the leakage is 1.5L per hour.

Could this mean the boiler is kaput ? or is it some sort of relief valve passing

Thanks for the help so far

 

[ShaunCorbs]

time to call a gas safe eng out to inspect inside

 

[Chalked]

As above. You need a gas safe registered engineer now.
At least you have found the problem.

Hope you have a service plan!!!!!

 

[Dotty]

Job 38.11